The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-10
SAVED BY A JOB"
Story Of One Who Nearly Com
mitted Suicide.

Net far from the center of department
activity Al Washington is a cosy restaurant
that is favorite resort Of lovers of good
fare and of that quiet which, to many, is SO
-ueedful an accessory to the enjoyment of a
good meal. 1t is noted not only for cosiness
and the excellent character of its viands
and liquors, as well as the polite attention
one IS sure 10 receive, but because it is the
resort of the Bohemians of the capital
Around its tables, especially in the even
lngs, there congregate in small groups
some of the brightest and best of the young
and old men, temporarily or permanently
located in Washington; and here the social
and political gossip of the day is retailed at
its freshest; good stories, told with a Zest
by rare story tellers, evoke merriment:
men and things are discussed with wit and
intelligence, and political movements are
conceived and formulated that are often far
reaching in their consequences.
Not many evenings ago there was gath
cred at one of the tables a party of four
gentlemen, who over their coffee and cigars
were discussing a subject not altogether in
keeping with the Surroundings. al OF which
suggested life and the enjoyment of it.
They were acquaintance of some months
standing; men who had been thrown 10
Gether in the whirl of winter life at the
capital, and who had found something con-
genial in cach others society in spite of the
great disparity in age, profession and sta
ton. The eldest of the party Colonel on
the retired list, had found Washington an
agreeable place to spend his days after
years of active service in the Mexican and
civil wars, in that arduous occupation of
the American soldier-chasing and fighting
Indians an f,n n,
stripping compared with this grizzled vet
eran, but a man with a keen look in the
bright hazel eyes that shone behind a pair
of glasses, and an assurance of manner
born of long association with men of the
world older in years and experience than
himself, was one of the brightest men of
Newspaper Row; a Congressman serving
his first term from Western State, was
the third member of the party and the
fourth a daboler in art and literature whose
name has not yet become known to fame In
either.
Il see said the newspaper man, as he
laid down his coffee cup, s'that Browns
body has been found, and there is no dopbt
that he committed suicide"
''As usual, George" lisped the dilcttante
IN art, You tell US something that is not
iews. Trust newspaper man for that
You fellows always greet one another with
ihe Sanitation 'Wha: do you know!, and
invariably keep your own little items of
news for the paper whose special You are ;,
''How is it with the artistic fraternity
Gus" retorted George, reused bythis home
thrust. Are they in the habit of giving
their ideas of coloring or of technj1ue IN
theirofeliow laborers in the vinevardl Or
do they wait until they have put them in
concrete form before the eyes of a probable
purchaser!'
Gus rclapsed into silence and the member
from the West, after a puff or two at his
cigar, said contemplativcly: well. Brown
found way out of an existence which soon
SYould have become unbeara5ie. Il was
the only course left him, unless he chose to
go 10 canada think he was wise in his
choice of alternatives"
81 don't agree with you, ;" broke in GEORGE
1t is only coward who would choose such
way OF solving the problem"
There you go again, my friend" inter
rupied Gus 1t is the province of the
newspaper writer to volunteer opinions
and you are always at it"
"And unfortuIS ely for the community
10 which they are given" said the Colonel
joining IN the conversation. s.nerspaper
ObA4AtobS diC OOO oIIO0 given 20 the lubfir
half formed, or are the reiteration of trite
aphorisms that are but half truths. hut
which, from their constant use, have come
20 pass as sound currency Our Young
friend here has PROBABLY caught uD that
idea of the cowardliness OF suicide with
his shorthand notes of some good clergy
mans srnon, when he was an ordinary re-
porter, audit has been floating about in his
mind ever since, without his giving it the
thought that one not OF the superficial;
habit that charscterizcs so MANY of his
conterees woald have given it"
The odds were clearly against George.
but, nothing abashed, he was proceeding TO
argue the point with his usual viyacity.
when the Congressman came to his relief
oy proposing TO give bit of personal ex-
per1ence, which he said might furnish tho
young man some ideas on the subject
George was not sorry for the interruption.
and accordingly dropped the discussion,
though only temporarily, he assured the
others, and in order that they might learn
something of the biography of statesman
aFhich the meager sketches of the Con-